Watertight electric receptacle connector

ABSTRACT

A watertight receptacle including a receptacle connector having electrical contacts and a threaded body that mates with an existing watertight plug is provided. The receptacle body is internally threaded to receive in a watertight fitting a removable plug. The threaded internal area is positioned opposite an enlarged outer grip portion which is substantially identical in form to the screwcap of the mating plug to facilitate tightening to achieve a watertight connection.

United States Patent Inventor Edward Swartz 68 Hamilton Avenue, Haverhill, Mass. 01830 Appl. No 26,689

l'llml Apr. Ii, I970 Patented Jan. 4, 1972 WATERTIGHT ELECTRIC RECEPTACLE CONNECTOR 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 339/36, 339/89 R, 339/94 R, 339/176 R, 339/191 R Int. Cl H0lr 13/44 Field of Search 339/89 R,

'89 C, 89 M, 36, 39, 45 M, 176, 177, 180, 188 R, 188 C, 191 R, 191 M, 192 R, 94 R, 94 C, 94 M, 195 R, 195 M, 206, 207, 209; 174/67; 220/24, 24.3

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,977,106 10/1934 Wylie 339/89 R 2,296,766 9/1942 174/22 2,739,290 3/1956 339/49 B 2,962,688 1 H1960 339/89 R 3,181,105 4/1965 339/94R 3,307,138 2/1967 33 /89 R Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Terrell F. Lewis AttorneysR. S. Sciascia, L. 1. Shrago and C. E. Vautrain, .lr.

ABSTRACT: A watertight receptacle including a receptacle connector having electrical contacts and a threaded body that mates with an existing watertight plug is provided. The receptacle body is internally threaded to receive in a watertight fitting a removable plug. The threaded internal area is posi- 7 tioned opposite an enlarged outer grip portion which is substantially identical in form to the screwcap of the mating plug to facilitate tightening to achieve a watertight connection.

PATENTEUJAN M972 3633.150

SHEET 1 [IF 2 E DWA R D SWARTZ INVENTOR.

BMW-1 g ZZZLZ WENIED m 41912 SHEET 2 OF 2 EDWARD SWARTZ INVENTOR. 05? W WATERTIGHT ELECTRIC RECEPTACLE CONNECTOR The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a portable electric receptacle for maintaining a watertight connection when used on conjunction with the electric plug of U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,138 issued to me, dated Feb. 28, 1967.

Bladed-type, portable electric plugs and receptacles are in use extensively in private boating as well as in oceangoing vessels. U.S. Pat. NO. 3,307,138 defines a particular type of portable plug which, when connected to standard shipboard fittings, provides a watertight connection to such fittings through a watertight housing and a screwcap which is screwed onto the threads of the shipboard connection.

The watertight connector of U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,138, although providing watertight connections to exposed sockets, has no portable counterpart which may be used to form a watertight connection between two cable ends. The present invention provides a mating watertight, portable receptacle and includes, in addition to a housing for the terminals to be protected, an integral knurled grip which is substantially identical in diameter to the diameter of the screwcap of the plug and an internally threaded area for receiving a contact housing in sealed relationship with the receptacle housing. To greatly facilitate achieving a sealed connection, the threads of the contact housing and the mating threads in the receptacle housing are disposed radially in line with the knurled grip portion.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved type of electric receptacle for use with a portable, watertight electric plug.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable, watertight receptacle having an integral grip portion which, when tightened, is disposed adjacent the screwcap of the receptacle.

A further object of the invention it to provide a simple, easily repairable, relatively low-cost receptacle capable of quickly forming a sealed electric connection with a watertight electric plug.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partly cut away, of the receptacle assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 in a half-sectional, side elevation view of the assembled components of the receptacle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view of the packing assembly utilized in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of the receptacle housing of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the contact housing employed in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the contact housing of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the contact housing of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a composite view of the receptacle of the invention aligned with a mating electric plug.

Referring to FIG. 1, receptacle assembly 11 is shown including a hollow receptacle body 12 which is generally cylindrical in shape and receives a contact housing 14 at one end and a cable-packing assembly 16 at the opposite end. Housing 12 is preferably integrally formed with a raised grip portion 18 which has substantially the same outer diameter as the screwcap of the mating electric plug which is to be used with the present receptacle to form a watertight connection. Housing 12 also is provided in longitudinal succession with an externally threaded portion 19 to receive the screwcap of the mating device and a reduced diameter chamber 21 having a threaded area 22 radially aligned with grip portion 18,

chamber 21 being adapted to receive in sealed fit at threaded area 22 contact housing 14. Chamber 21 is shaped to accom- 26 and 27, shown in FIG. 7. In further longitudinal succession,

housing 12 next is formed with a ridge 28 of reduced diameter and a chamber 29 of tapering increased diameter for receiving an electric cable, not shown, and packing assembly 16. Packing assembly 16 and the cable are compressedin sealed relationship in chamber 29 by a cable-securing cap 30.

FIG. 2 shown the various components in a sectional side elevation view and illustrates the relative placement of contact housing 14 and grip portions 18. Threaded area 22, by which housing 14 is engaged with housing 12, is shown radially disposed within the longitudinal limits of knurled, raised grip portion 18. Contact housing 14 is of a conventional type having a ground spring contact 33 and a pair of terminal spring contacts, not shown. Receptacle housing 12 is provided with a screwcap 34 secured by a safety cord 35 f or maintaining the receptacle watertight when not in use. A washer 36 is inserted between cap 34 and housing 12 to provide theiwatertight seal. At the end of housing 12 opposite that of cap 34, the cable securing cap 30 is shown holding in place packing assembly 16 which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3. This assembly is shown mounted on a cable 38 and includes a packing bushing 39 which is centrally disposed in chamber 29, a pair of sealing washers 40 and 41 which are disposed between cap 30 and housing 12, and a third sealing washer 42 which is disposed at the interior end of chamber 29 between ridge 28 and bushing FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevation view of housing 12 only and illustrates the relation of the various portions to the grip portion 18. Starting at the receptacle end, housing 12 is provided with an opening 48, of enlarged diameter which is adapted to receive the end of a mating electric plug and a circumscribing externally threaded portion 19. A flange is provided at 49 for stopping the connecting plug, and chamber 2 l, of reduced diameter, is nextprovided for receiving contact housing 14. Chamber 21 extends a sufi'rcient distance to a flange 51 to accommodate the terminal ends of a cable. Ridge 28 forms a flange 52 against which washer 42 abuts while the outer end of chamber 29 is tapered, as indicated at 54, to receive the mating surface of packing bushing 39. External to chamber 29 are threads 55 to receive cable cap 30.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a standard type of contact housing, such as 14, which in this embodiment is provided with an enlarged cylindrical upper portion 57 including a threaded portion 58 and a protruding annular cap 59 which forms a surface 60 for abutting flange 49 of housing 12. The socket end of housing 14 is shown in FIG. 6, and the terminal end is shown in FIG. 7. Molded barriers, such as are indicated at 65, may be provided at the terminal end to add strength to the unit as ,well as to electrically isolate the terminals. The composite receptacle and mating plug shown in FIG. 8 includes receptacle assembly 11 to the left with closure cap 34 removed and to the right mating plug 70 for insertion into the receptacle of the present invention. Cap 71 of plug 70 slideable over housing 72 and abuts against a flange 73 at the end of housing 72 compressing a washer 74 between housing 72 and housing 12 to form a watertight seal when cap 71 is tightened on threads 19.

The watertight receptacle of the present invention is particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with applicants watertight plug to form a chain of electric, watertight connections which may be used to provide exterior lighting such as about a ships hull for either decorative purposes or military security, among other applications. The mating plug and receptacle are joined to form the watertight connection by simply turning in opposite direction the screwcap of the prior electric plug and the knurled grip of similar dimensions in the present watertight receptacle. The screwcap of the prior invention is provided with an inwardly turned flange and is slideable on the housing up to an outwardly turnedflange at the In the prior invention, the screwcap is secured over the threads on a permanently installed receptacle so that, when tightened, a watertight seal is formed by the washer when it is compressed between the screwcap and the end surface of the receptacle. The present invention provides a similar watertight connection but substitutes a portable receptacle for the permanently installed receptacle. With the present invention, it is possible to fonn a chain of connectors as long as desired by simply joining together the required number of cords or cables having the receptacle of the present invention at one end and the plug of the prior invention at the other end. The receptacle may be assembled easily by inexperienced person nel and requires as tools only a screwdriver. The components of the receptacle preferably are made of molded polycarbonate with the exception of the bushing and washers which may be made of any suitable conventional elastomeric material.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings.

What is claimed is:

l. A sealable electric receptacle assembly adapted to be connected to a sealable electric plug, comprising:

a hollow receptacle body generally cylindrical in shape, said body having in longitudinal succession:

an externally threaded cylindrical portion for connection of a mating electric plug cap;

an enlarged diameter external grip portion and an internally threaded area opposite said grip portion to facilitate securing an electric contact means therein and tightening said cap;

an elongate central cavity for receiving the contact means;

a reduced diameter end portion and a cable-packing means adapted to be inserted therein for receiving an electric cable in sealed relationship;

an externally threaded portion disposed about said cable end portion for receiving a cable-securing cap;

an electric contact means adapted be secured in said body; and

a screwcap adapted to form a sealed closure when tightened on said body, whereby a sealed receptacle is provided which is adapted for connection with a mating electrical plug assembly to form a sealed electric connection.

2. The receptacle assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the mating electric plug is provided with a screwcap and a closure flange against which a sealing washer is compressed when said screwcap is tightened,

the grip portion of said receptacle assembly having an outer transverse surface disposed a selected distance from the adjacent end of the assembly to permit complete tightening of the screwcap of the mating electric plug,

the mating threaded areas of said screwcap and said cylindrical portion providing one sealed area and the washer providing the other sealed area at the junction of said plug and receptacle.

3. The receptacle assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said contact means is adapted to be screwed into said internally threaded area by the prongs of said male plug.

4. In a series of electric cords or cables for establishing a watertight circuit which includes a watertight plug having a screwcap and washer adapted to form a seal when tightened on a fixed receptacle, the combination of:

a receptacle assembly having a hollow receptacle body generally cylindrical in shape,

said body including in longitudinal succession an externally threaded cylindrical portion having threads matching the threads on said fixed receptacle;

a reduced diameter chamber adapted to receive a contact housing and the terminal ends of a cable to be connected thereto,

said chamber forming a radially disposed surface against which said plug abuts and having a threaded area adjacent said surface; an enlarged diameter grip portion radially disposed with respect to said chamber threaded area,

said grip portion substantially identical in shape to the screwcap of said plug to facilitate tightening of the screwcap;

a cable and cable-packing receiving chamber for receiving an electric cable in sealed relationship therein, said packing chamber forming a radially disposed surface against which the cable packing abuts;

an internally threaded cable-securing cap and external threading on said receptacle housing for securing said cable-securing cap thereto;

a contact housing secured in said receptacle housing; and

a cable secured in said receptacle housing and connected to said contact housing whereby cables assembled using said watertight receptacles and plugs may form power extensions of any desired length, providing lighting, outlets, etc., for ship or shore use.

5. The receptacle assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said contact means is adapted to be screwed into said internally threaded area by the prongs of said male plug. 

1. A sealable electric receptacle assembly adapted to be connected to a sealable electric plug, comprising: a hollow receptacle body generally cylindrical in shape, said body having in longitudinal succession: an externally threaded cylindrical portion for connection of a mating electric plug cap; an enlarged diameter external grip portion and an internally threaded area opposite said grip portion to facilitate securing an electric contact means therein and tightening said cap; an elongate central cavity for receiving the contact means; a reduced diameter end portion and a cable-packing means adapted to be inserted therein for receiving an electric cable in sealed relationship; an externally threaded portion disposed about said cable end portion for receiving a cable-securing cap; an electric contact means adapted to be secured in said body; and a screwcap adapted to form a sealed closure when tightened on said body, whereby a sealed receptacle is provided which is adapted for connection with a mating electrical plug assembly to form a sealed electric connection.
 2. The receptacle assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the mating electric plug is provided with a screwcap and a closure flange against which a sealing washer is Compressed when said screwcap is tightened, the grip portion of said receptacle assembly having an outer transverse surface disposed a selected distance from the adjacent end of the assembly to permit complete tightening of the screwcap of the mating electric plug, the mating threaded areas of said screwcap and said cylindrical portion providing one sealed area and the washer providing the other sealed area at the junction of said plug and receptacle.
 3. The receptacle assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said contact means is adapted to be screwed into said internally threaded area by the prongs of said male plug.
 4. In a series of electric cords or cables for establishing a watertight circuit which includes a watertight plug having a screwcap and washer adapted to form a seal when tightened on a fixed receptacle, the combination of: a receptacle assembly having a hollow receptacle body generally cylindrical in shape, said body including in longitudinal succession an externally threaded cylindrical portion having threads matching the threads on said fixed receptacle; a reduced diameter chamber adapted to receive a contact housing and the terminal ends of a cable to be connected thereto, said chamber forming a radially disposed surface against which said plug abuts and having a threaded area adjacent said surface; an enlarged diameter grip portion radially disposed with respect to said chamber threaded area, said grip portion substantially identical in shape to the screwcap of said plug to facilitate tightening of the screwcap; a cable and cable-packing receiving chamber for receiving an electric cable in sealed relationship therein, said packing chamber forming a radially disposed surface against which the cable packing abuts; an internally threaded cable-securing cap and external threading on said receptacle housing for securing said cable-securing cap thereto; a contact housing secured in said receptacle housing; and a cable secured in said receptacle housing and connected to said contact housing whereby cables assembled using said watertight receptacles and plugs may form power extensions of any desired length, providing lighting, outlets, etc., for ship or shore use.
 5. The receptacle assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said contact means is adapted to be screwed into said internally threaded area by the prongs of said male plug. 